Hybrid sterilization

Abstract

There is described a method for sterilizing a device. The method includes: masking a portion of the device from a sterilization protocol using a mask; sterilizing a portion of the device using a first sterilization protocol; and sterilizing a portion of the device using a second sterilization protocol; where the mask shields the masked portion of the device from at least one of the sterilization protocols or attenuates the effect of at least one of the sterilization protocols in the masked portion. There is also described a system for sterilizing a device. The system includes a first sterilant; a second sterilant; and a mask for shielding a portion of the device from at least one of the sterilants.

1 . A method for sterilizing a device, the method comprising:
 masking a portion of the device from a sterilization protocol using a mask;   sterilizing a portion of the device using a first sterilization protocol; and   sterilizing a portion of the device using a second sterilization protocol;   wherein the mask shields the masked portion of the device from at least one of the sterilization protocols or attenuates the effect of at least one of the sterilization protocols in the masked portion.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the mask alters the first sterilization protocol, the second sterilization protocol, or both the first and the second sterilization protocols so that shielding the masked portion of the device results in exposure of the masked portion to an altered sterilization protocol. 
     
     
         3 . A method for sterilizing at least a portion of a device, the method comprising:
 masking a first portion of the device from a first sterilization protocol using a first mask, resulting in a first unmasked portion of the device;   sterilizing the first unmasked portion of the device using the first sterilization protocol; and   sterilizing the device using a second sterilization protocol.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 masking a second portion of the device from a second sterilization protocol using a second mask, resulting in a second unmasked portion of the device;   wherein the step of sterilizing the device using a second sterilization protocol comprises sterilizing the second unmasked portion of the device using the second sterilization protocol.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the first mask alters the first sterilization protocol, the second sterilization protocol, or both the first and the second sterilization protocols so that shielding the masked portion of the device results in exposure of the masked portion to an altered sterilization protocol. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the first mask, the second mask, or both the first and second masks, alters the first sterilization protocol, the second sterilization protocol, or both the first and the second sterilization protocols so that shielding the masked portion of the device results in exposure of the masked portion to an altered sterilization protocol. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein the first mask, the second mask, or both the first and the second mask may be an item introduced into the process, or may inherently be a portion of the device. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising removing at least one mask from the device. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first sterilizing protocol and the second sterilizing protocol are applied sequentially or concurrently. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more portions of the device are exposed to both the first and the second sterilization protocols. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising masking a portion of the device with a further mask and sterilizing the unmasked portion of the device using a further sterilization protocol. 
     
     
         12 . A system for sterilizing a device, the system comprising:
 a first sterilant;   a second sterilant; and   a mask for shielding a portion of the device from at least one of the sterilants.   
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the mask is a component attached to or embedded in the device to be sterilized. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the mask is a component that is removed when the device is used. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 12 , further comprising another mask for shielding a portion of the device from the other of the first and second sterilants, or from a further sterilant.